We wanted to provide you with our assurances that our offices will remain open for business during the COVID-19 pandemic and its corresponding shutdowns. Our dedicated lawyers and staff will be doing our best to continue working on your matters during this time.
We will be suspending all in-person contact in our offices, unless your matter is an emergency, or a special arrangement has been made with you and the lawyer who has conduct of your file.
Please note legal emergencies for the purposes of attending our offices are defined as one of the following:
- There is a risk of violence or immediate harm to one of the parties or a child
- There is a risk of removal of a child from the jurisdiction
- Preservation Orders
- Urgent Wills and Estates matters
- Emergency Protection matters
This situation is ever changing and we will be doing our best to provide updated information to you as we receive it.
Court Closures
Alberta Court of Queen’s Bench
Please also be aware, that the Court of Queen’s Bench of Alberta is temporarily closed due to the recent spread of COVID-19. At this time, only emergency matters are being heard. Please click here to visit the Alberta Court’s website.
If you had a Court matter scheduled, it has been adjourned sine die (indefinitely). The Courts will be providing an update on March 27, 2020.
We will be monitoring the situation as it unfolds. You may refer to the Alberta Courts website for further announcements.
Provincial Court of Alberta
For all clients with matters scheduled for Provincial Court, please see the announcement below:
Non-urgent family matters set to be heard after March 17, 2020 will be adjourned for ten weeks from the scheduled court date. The Court website will be updated regularly to provide information regarding rescheduling, which will be 10 weeks from the date of your scheduled court appearance or the next court date thereafter.
The following matters are considered urgent and will be heard by the court:
- Matters with statutory limitations or deadlines
- Where there is the risk of violence or immediate harm to one of the parties or the child
- Where there is risk of removal of a child
- Apprehension orders
- Initial Custody Hearings
- First appearance after apprehension
- Mandatory reviews or show causes under the Child, Youth and Family Enhancement Act, Protection of Children Abusing Drugs Act, Protection of Sexually Exploited Children Act, Mandatory Drug Testing and Disclosure Act, and Mental Health Act
- Warrants
- Emergency protection orders
Family Pre-Trial Conferences, Child Protection Case Management Meetings and Judicial Dispute Resolutions will be conducted by telephone unless adjourned.
Any Child Protection Hearing where the parties have consented to a return, Supervision order, Temporary Guardianship Order or Permanent Guardianship Order will occur on an as-needed basis.
We sincerely thank you for your patience during this difficult time.
